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How to pay for college is a question on the minds of many parents. Regardless of how old your child is, funding their future education is a major concern. My wife and I are fortunate because we have time. Then again, our neighbor’s son who was just in diapers went to kindergarten today. Maybe we don’t have as much time as we think.

This is a new series where I will explore college education and why I believe it’s vital to a child’s future. My four years at Plattsburgh State University were some of the best years of my life.

I believe education is the key to a better future. Sure, one may get lucky and invent the next Facebook or iPad and not need college. If this is your kid, kudos and enjoy your tropical island. For the rest of us, college is key. Let’s start with deciding to or not to help financially.

The Decision

Prior to actually creating a fund of some kind, parents need to decide if they want to fund their child’s education. If they truly don’t want to put any money towards college, hopefully they’re honest with themselves. Then be honest with their children.

My wife and I knew from the start, we wanted to help. Deciding what to do wasn’t easy, but I think we both rest easier knowing that we are helping.

Fortunately we have no plans to become the Brady Bunch so this makes decision-making easier. Paying for college is really a personal decision that stems from many factors surrounding the parents. Once you make the decision, stick with it.

Stay tuned for the next installment, How to Pay For College Part 2: Do We Have Options?

Thanks for reading. Comments and feedback are always welcome and encouraged.

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I’ve found there are moments when parents question their decision to have kids. Mostly in the wee hours of the morning, the two-hour drive to the in-laws, or the wonder world of Walmart. I suspect these moments are fleeting. Fortunately for the kids, mommy and daddy love them and wouldn’t trade them for the world.

It was in one of these moments, when my beautiful wife looked at me with the all too familiar look of exasperation, and I blurted out, “maybe for my next birthday, I’ll get that procedure to prevent having more.”

I, of course, was completely joking.

With a straight face, and even more serious tone, she responded, “my birthday is sooner.”

I’m going to speak to the husbands and fathers out there: this was a moment of realization about my marriage and life that I honestly didn’t know how to take. Therefore my response was to laugh and change the subject. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Needless to say, since that day we’ve both come to our senses. I will never mention the subject again. I think my wife is somewhat concerned as to what my reaction will be if she mentions it again. So, she’ll just make the appointment for me.

As for Little A, he laughed, shook his head no, and then gave flight to the baby monitor.

Rarely do I post twice in one day, but thanks to the sore throat, I have some time. I just read that Superman and Batman will unite for the first time on the big screen in 2015. Here the kid in me comes out.

What an awesome, and overdue, concept for a full length film. I’m not one to go to the movies, and I’m a comic-book superhero neophyte for sure. However, thanks to re-runs of The Big Bang Theory, I’m more in the proverbial “superhero loop.”

I would have to say I’m a bigger fan of Batman than Superman. The abilities of the Son of Krypton is beyond us mortals. But Batman is different. Anyone of us could be Batman. In many ways, many of us dad’s already are.

Think about it, for many, we have daytime gigs. Whatever job it may be. Then, we come home after long days, and its daddy time. We kill bugs, fix the kitchen sink, change a diaper or three. Bathe, feed, and then read the Pout-Pout Fish six times before finally laying the kid to bed. Oh wait, that’s me.

I’m still looking for my utility belt, but thanks to Batman, I’ll live vicariously through him. I’ll tell the wife now, we will plan a date night in 2015 for this one.

I haven’t posted all week. This is rather unusual for me. Call it blogger’s block, writer’s block, or I just couldn’t think of anything. Or, once again, life created many interruptions. This past week, my wife and I celebrated our fifth anniversary. Where did the time go?

Our time together has all life’s ups and downs, but what marriage doesn’t? However, I’m not sure if I should be concerned. On our way to our celebratory dinner, my wife tells me she watched the DVD of our wedding photos. She never had any intention to do so. The wedding DVD fell out of our entertainment center while she was putting one of our son’s Thomas and Friends DVDs away.

Needless to say, I’m still searching for the meaning in this.

After five years, we’ve both come to the realization that a wedding is just an event. The next morning you wake up, all you have is each other. The attention is gone, the pomp and circumstance is gone. You’re left with a book (and DVD) of memories. We ate the top of our wedding cake on our one year anniversary. Wasn’t the same defrosted.

I wouldn’t trade my wife in for anything. I’m truly a lucky man. No, I didn’t just say that because she reads the blog. My advice to those getting married is don’t get caught up in the event of the wedding. Look at the relationship, the person you’re planning on spending the rest of your days with. Your story starts there.

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What does Father’s Day mean to you? I overheard someone ask this question yesterday. I’ve never really thought about Father’s Day as anything more than a day to call my dad and send a card. Last year, when Little A was born, that changed.

I’m the dad now. Little A is still too young to realize what today is, but I have much more to think about on Father’s Day. I think it’s easy to take dads and moms for granted. So on this day, I’ll be thinking about what my dad means to me, and what I hope I’ll mean to Little A.

My dad taught me, and continues to teach me, many things. From shaving, to fishing, he showed me many of the good things in life. One point about the fishing, I’m all for throwing the fish back into the water. But, I must say, when they aren’t biting and you finally catch one, it’s tough to let it go. Yet, another lesson the old man taught me, sometimes no matter how hard you work, things may not turn out the way you like.

Dad also did many things for me that maybe he never enjoyed himself, but seeing me enjoy them was fulfillment enough. Becoming a father has made me realize what sacrifice and joy are all about.

What memories do you have of your dad? What does Father’s Day mean to you?